Dealing with Bitter Disappointment

Joshua 14:10-11 

Caleb: “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day.”

Disappointments abound. Some disappointments are huge. They can impact our careers, our relationships, our dreams and our entire self-worth. No one escapes. But some people – like Caleb – navigate disappointment exceptionally well. What can we learn?

When Caleb was age 40, he met with a serious disappointment. After serving on a special research task-group of twelve, he and one other (Joshua) presented a minority report in the recommendations they made to Moses and to Israel. These recommendations were not adopted and Caleb was sidelined. In contemporary terms we might say that he was overlooked for the big promotion and his career went nowhere for most of his life! (Number 13)

His experience is familiar to many people. It is very challenging to triumph in the face of bitter disappointment. But Caleb did! His path from disappointment to blessing is a model for all of us. Here is what we can learn from his life.

1. Keep your dream alive. At age 85 he is still ready to go. It took 45 years for his advice to be accepted and when it was, Caleb was eager to participate. He has been in the gym working out all these years. He has remained on “standby” waiting for his moment and ready whenever God needs him.

Recognise that your disappointment may only be for a season. Don’t worry about how long the season will be, just hold onto God. Remain on alert, ready to serve the Lord.

2. Don’t get bitter. In my bible there are 71 pages between Caleb’s disappointment and his joy. Throughout most of the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua we hear nothing about the man. Then, when he does appear in the story, he is bold and obedient. There is no hint of ill-temper, just a man with his spiritual engine revving and ready.

Refuse to become angry and embittered. Don’t take offense at the situation even if it is wrong (as it certainly was for Caleb).

3. Follow the Lord with life-long passion. The bible remembers Caleb most for one thing: “wholehearted" devotion to the Lord. This expression is repeated six times in connection with Caleb. It is what people thought of first when they spoke his name. What a testimony! He had a different spirit. (Numb. 14:24)

Submit your steps to God. If someone rejects you, let it drive you back to God. Put your whole heart into knowing and doing God's will. That's what it means to live with a different spirit.

4. Anticipate God’s future blessing. God gave Caleb great honour. He allowed him to lead a successful campaign in the very region he had spied out 45 years earlier. Caleb was able to be the one who fulfilled his own recommendations. And, his memory is preserved in God’s book. (I’ll bet you can’t remember one of the guys who gave the majority report in Numb 13. Although they were big news then they are nothing now.)

Hold on to hope. God has a way of surprising his faithful children. Never assume that an opportunity missed is the worst thing that could happen in your life. God who sees all may intend it for good.

Tie your heart to God’s design. If you get disappointed, chill. He will lift you up in HIS time.

Post Script

According to the majority report back in Numb 13 there were giants in the land too big to defeat (Anakites). When Caleb goes to battle 45 years later as an 85 year old man he takes on that very group of people and inherits the city named after the biggest-badest giant of them all (Josh 14:15). What they said he couldn't do when he was 40 he did when he was 85. You have to laugh. Caleb is vindicated, God is glorified and we can be encourage.

Questions:

• What would you add to this list of insights concerning disappointment?
• How do you deal with unfair things that happen in your life?
• Please leave a comment.

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